This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.

This Website Uses CookiesBy closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn MoreThis website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.

Green Homes Perceived As Affordable To Live In But Expensive To Build

Green
homes offer a wide variety of benefits from reducing carbon footprints to
saving money on utility bills to even improving the health of children.
However, a recent Whirlpool Corp. and Habitat for Humanity survey, conducted by
the NAHB Research Center, polled home builders, as well as consumers, and found
many believe there’s a disconnect between living in a green home and purchasing
one. Yet, the majority of respondents (64 percent) indicated that savings from
green home features were sometimes worth the added costs and efforts. This
finding was consistent across all income level groups for both renters and
homeowners.

It’s
a particularly difficult position for the majority of homeowners in the United
States. The consumer survey, fielded in August 2010 by the NAHB Research Center
to gauge perceptions of affordable and green housing, found that the majority
of high- (67 percent), upper middle- (65 percent) and middle- (59 percent)
income respondents, as well as nearly half of low-income respondents (48
percent), indicated they believe a completely green home would be affordable to
live in or maintain. Yet only high-income respondents were more likely to
indicate that a completely green home would be affordable to purchase (71
percent).

“The
health benefits, low utility costs and other factors make green homes ideal for
all homeowners,” said Tom Halford, general
manager, contract sales and marketing, Whirlpool Corp. “However, it takes a
united front of manufacturers, builders and organizations to help builders and
consumers understand that building green can be affordable. There’s a need to
bridge the perception gap between green-building and affordability, so that
builders and families understand that options exist to improve their footprint
in the long-term, while saving money and resources in the short-term.”

The
builder survey, fielded July-August 2010 to members of the Research Center’s
Online Builder Panel, found that 87 percent believe green homes are affordable
for middle-income families to live in, while 30 percent felt green homes were
too expensive for the segment to purchase or build. For low-income families, 70
percent of home builders believe green homes are affordable to live in, and
nearly 60 percent of builders thought green homes were too expensive for
low-income families to purchase or build.

“Under
Habitat’s nonprofit construction model, Habitat affiliates across the United
States are incorporating sustainable materials and energy-efficient products in
Habitat homes, as this is both a responsible building practice and it improves
the affordability of homes for Habitat partner homeowners,” said Larry
Gluth, senior vice president of U.S. and Canada for Habitat for
Humanity International. “The challenge is to help people understand that
building green doesn’t mean it can’t be affordable, too.”

These
findings are the first in a series of results from the Whirlpool Corp./Habitat
for Humanity builder and consumer surveys. For more information on affordable
housing, visit www.habitat.org or www.whirlpool.com/habitat.

Study
methodology: The builder portion of the study surveyed 304 respondents and was
conducted from July 23 - Aug. 4, 2010, using an online format. Members of the
NAHB Research Center Online Builder Panel were invited to take the survey and
respondents were required to be an active homebuilder or general contractor.
The consumer portion surveyed 1,092 homeowners from Aug. 23-25, 2010, using an
online format. Consumers nationwide were invited to take the survey through e-mail
invitations.